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Food for Thought :: The Anglo-Ethiopian Administration

During Ethiopia's war against Italy (1935-1941), we should remember that those who fled the country and those who submitted to Italian rule were mostly members of the ruling class (mesafint), religious leaders, and high ranking generals. Conversely, those whose severe struggle and sacrifice eventually led to Italy's defeat were among the low ranking former officers and ordinary citizens. These patriots organized themselves into separate units, in different parts of the country, without any national leadership or political program.

After Italy's defeat in 1941, a vicious power struggle ensued between the partiots and the returning "diasporas". Those who ascended to power were not those who had fought during the bitter five years, but those recently returned from exile. In fact, one of the main reasons the restored Ethiopian administration relied on assistance from the British Army was their fear of retaliation from the patriots. In this heartbreaking domestic conflict, the patriots suffered greatly at the hands of the exiles. Well recognized patriot generals like Dejazmach Takele Wolde Hawariat, Dejazmach Belay Zeleke (resistance leader of Gojjam), and Dejazmach Geressu Duki (resistance leader of the Wolliso area) were punished by death and imprisonment for their resistance to the new Anglo-Ethiopian administration.

A famous poem composed by the patriot, historian and writer Gerima Tafere depicts this sad era. The poem is originally in Amharic, but I have tried to translate it below in English:

Ethiopia my country,
You are pitiful and silly,
You feed not those who died for you,
Only those who killed you.

Ethiopia Hagere
Mogn nesh Tellalla,
Yemotelish qerto
Yegedelesh bella.

[2007-01-31 10:38 PM]